There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad-free.

Listen with Wondry Plus in the Wondry app.

As a member of NoisorPlus at noisor.com or in Apple Podcasts,

or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at IntoHistory.com.

A listener note. This episode contains a brief reference to suicide.

Music A listener note, this episode contains a brief reference to suicide. It's the morning of June 17, 1940, World War II is underway in Europe, and the Nazis have just taken France.

On an airfield in the port city of Bordeaux,

a French cabinet minister named General Charles de Gaulle

briskly leads his friend Edward Spears,

a British liaison officer towards a waiting plane.

As they walk, Charles glances over the sizable group

of armed French police watching their every move.

And when Charles arrives at the plane, he opens the cockpit door and gestures to Edward to climb inside.

Edward does as he's told.

Charles cuts his eyes back to the French policeman.

And then he slaps the side of the plane.

As the pilot starts the engine, Charles shakes his head with

frustration. He doesn't recognize his country anymore. Three days ago, Nazi Germany completed its

invasion of France, and instead of resisting, the French prime minister agreed to collaborate with

Hitler. Edward has been given permission to fly home to England, and Charles has come to see him off.

At least, that's what these policemen think. Just as the plane begins to move slowly down the runway,

the cockpit door flies open again, and Edward extends his hand to his friend.

...